I don't think that's exactly what op is getting at. Basically they're saying the west will give token support to HK and hang them out to dry later. They're saying the options aren't freedom vs. tyranny, but rather high vs. low GDP police state.
Exactly. Hong Kong's only real choices are to be an exemplary model of the 'two systems one country' model and wait for China to change, or to go against the grain and get crushed. Becoming a 'free', 'western' country is impossible.
